Magnolia plant named ‘HYB01’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Magnolia plant named ‘HYB01’ that is characterized by its compact well-branched plant habit, self-cleaning fragrant red-purple flowers borne in profusion in spring and a high tolerance of heat and humidity.

Genus and species Magnolia laevifolia x figo.

Variety denomination: ‘HYB01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Magnolia, grown as an ornamental plant for use in the garden and landscape. The new cultivar is known botanically as Magnolia laevifolia x figo and will be referred to hereinafter by the cultivar name ‘HYB01’. This application is co-pending with the application for the inventor's variety of Magnolia plant named ‘SL01’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 18/185,368).

‘HYB01’ arose from a breeding program conducted by the inventor in Kariong, New South Wales, Australia. The breeding program was commenced in 2000 with the objectives of developing varieties of Magnolia which are suitable for pot or container production, with compact plant habits and profuse flowering in a range of flower colors.

The male parent of ‘HYB01’ is an unnamed Magnolia laevifolia (species, unpatented) and the female parent of ‘HYB01’ is an unnamed Magnolia figo (species unpatented). In 2000, the inventor first emasculated flowers of male Magnolia laevifolia and covered the emasculated flowers to exclude other pollination. The emasculated flowers were hand-pollinated by the inventor using pollen from Magnolia figo. The inventor collected the resultant seed from this controlled pollination and evaluated the growth and appearance of the hybrids until 2005 when the inventor selected ‘HYB01’

The inventor first propagated ‘HYB01’ in 2005, using stem cuttings. The inventor has determined that ‘HYB01’ is stable and remains true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation.

SUMMARY

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new Magnolia cultivar ‘HYB01’. ‘HYB01’ has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions, however, without any variance in genotype.

-   -   1. ‘HYB01’ exhibits a compact and well-branched plant habit.     -   2. A seven year old plant of ‘HYB01’ growing in a large         container, achieves a height of 125 cm. and a width of 100 cm.     -   3. ‘HYB01’ flowers profusely in spring, bearing approximately         500 flowers at peak flowering in mid to late March.     -   4. The ground color of the tepals of the flowers of ‘HYB01’ are         pale cream-pink and heavily overlaid with light to dark         red-purple mottling or flecks.     -   5. The tepals of the flowers exhibit darker red-purple tepal         margins.     -   6. The flowers of ‘HYB01’ are self-cleaning and liable to         shatter when touched.     -   7. The foliage of ‘HYB01’ is dark olive-green in color.     -   8. ‘HYB01’ grows well in moist well-drained soils in full sun to         partial shade.     -   9. ‘HYB01’ exhibits a high tolerance of heat and humidity.     -   10. ‘HYB01’ is hardy at least to USDA Zone 6.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Magnolia variety ‘HYB01’ showing colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors of the new variety ‘HYB01’. Photographs were taken in Santa Barbara, Calif. from a seven year old plant which is growing outdoors in a 15 gallon container. No chemicals were used to treat the plant.

FIG. 1 depicts a whole plant of ‘HYB01’ in early bud.

FIG. 2 depicts a close-up view of the buds and flowers of ‘HYB01’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar ‘HYB01’. Data was collected from seven-year old plants grown in 15 gallon containers in Santa Barbara, Calif. The color determinations are in accordance with the 2007 edition of The Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. No chemicals were used to treat the plants. Growing conditions are typical of other Magnolia.

-   Botanical classification: Magnolia.     -   -   Variety.—‘HYB01’.         -   Species.—laevifolia x figo. -   Parentage:     -   -   Male parent.—Unnamed Magnolia laevifolia.         -   Female parent.—Unnamed Magnolia figo. -   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Upright, broad vase-shaped.         -   Use.—In containers and for planting in the landscape.         -   Suitable container sizes.—3 gallon, 5 gallon and larger             containers.         -   Dimensions in seventh year (the observed plants) in a 5             gallon container.—125 cm. in height, and 100 cm. in width.         -   Hardiness.—At least hardy to USDA Zone 6.         -   Propagation.—Stem cuttings.         -   Root system.—Fibrous.         -   Light.—Plant or position container in full sun or partial             shade.         -   Soil.—Plant in moist but well drained soil.         -   Type.—Evergreen small tree.         -   Seasonal interest.—Red-purple flowers in early and             mid-spring. -   Stem (from soil level to first primary branch):     -   -   Shape.—Round cross-section.         -   Dimensions.—5 cm.-8 cm. in length, 5 cm. in diameter at soil             level.         -   Color.—198D.         -   Surface.—Lignified, rough, glabrous. Lenticels absent. -   Branches:     -   -   Quantity.—3 primary branches at or up to 8 cm. above soil             level. 30-35 secondary branches or laterals.         -   Branch dimensions.—Primary branches: 70 cm.-90 cm. in             length, 5 mm.-8 mm. in diameter. Secondary branches: 45             cm.-60 cm. in length.         -   Branch shape.—Geniculate (angled at each node), round             cross-section.         -   Internode distance.—2.0 cm.-2.5 cm.         -   Color.—Older wood (2 or more years old): As stem, 198D.             Newer growth (current and previous years): 151A-153D.         -   Surface.—Older wood (2 or more years old): Rough,             longitudinally ridged. Newer growth (current and previous             years): Smooth, with dense very dark brown pubescence. Hairs             fine and very short (less than 0.25 mm.), color 200A. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf shape.—Ovate, longitudinally convex.         -   Leaf aspect.—Ranges between 20 degrees to 40 degrees above             the horizontal.         -   Leaf attachment.—Short petiolate.         -   Petiole dimensions.—6 mm.-9 mm. in length and 2 mm.-3 mm. in             diameter.         -   Petiole color.—Ranges between 151A-153D.         -   Leaf dimensions.—70 mm.-80 mm. in length, 40 mm.-43 mm. in             width.         -   Leaf surface (adaxial).—Smooth, glabrous, glossy.         -   Leaf surface (abaxial).—Smooth, glabrous, matte.         -   Leaf color (adaxial).—146A.         -   Leaf color (abaxial).—146D.         -   Leaf apex.—Rounded.         -   Leaf base.—Broadly acute, almost rounded.         -   Leaf margin.—Smooth, entire.         -   Leaf venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Veins (adaxial surface).—Appear as faint depressions, color             as blade.         -   Veins (abaxial surface).—Appear as very faint depressions,             color as blade, except midrib raised approximately 0.25 mm.             with very lightly pubescence, color 175D, towards petiole. -   Inflorescence::     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Globular to bowl shaped, held             upright.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self cleaning.         -   Quantity.—One bud per node; more than 500 buds per plant in             March.         -   Natural flowering season.—Commencing in late fall and             peaking in early spring (mid-March to late March).         -   Age of plants when first flowering.—Most plants flower             within the first year of growth from budding.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—7-9 days from first opening             to shedding of tepals.         -   Fragrance.—Honeyed perfume.         -   Shape.—Globular opening to bowl shaped with maturity.         -   Diameter.—30 mm.-35 mm.         -   Depth (height).—25 mm.-30 mm. from tepal base.         -   Flower buds (prior to showing color).—Shape: Ovoid.             Dimensions: 22 mm.-24 mm. in length, 14 mm.-18 mm. in             diameter. Color: Green 146D beneath (when scraped) dense             dark brown pubescence. Hairs: very short, less than 0.25 mm             in length, color ranges between 165A and 200D.         -   Tepals.—Number: 6. Arrangement: Overlapping. Strength: Weak:             tepals fall away with light touch. Flowers will shatter in             high wind. Dimensions: 35 mm. in length and 18 mm. in width.             Shape: Broadly elliptic. Apex: Rounded. Base: Truncate.             Margin: Entire. Surface texture: Waxy, glabrous. Color (both             surfaces, excluding margin): Ground color, light cream-pink             155D with flecks or mottling ranging between 186D and 186A.             Color (margin, both surfaces): Ranges between 64A and 64B.         -   Peduncles.—Dimensions: Approximately 15 mm. in length and             6 mm. in diameter. Color: As bud: green 146D beneath (when             scraped) dense dark brown pubescence. Hairs very short, less             than 0.25 mm. in length, color ranges between 165A and 200D. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 45-50.         -   Filament dimensions.—Length: 9 mm.-11 mm.; diameter 1 mm.         -   Filament color.—77A.         -   Anther shape.—Awl shaped, longitudinally furrowed             terminating in small conical apical tip.         -   Anther dimensions.—5 mm.-6 mm. in length, 2 mm. in width.         -   Anther color.—163C, except apical tip 79A.         -   Pollen amount.—None observed.         -   Pistil quantity.—1.         -   Pistil length.—19 mm. including pistil stem (6 mm. in             length) and terminal carpel cluster (13 mm. in length).         -   Pistil diameter.—2 mm. (pistil stem) and 4 mm (carpel             cluster).         -   Stigma shape.—Round.         -   Style length.—Approximately 3 mm.         -   Ovary.—Observed immature and undeveloped. Shape             approximately spherical, color 144C. -   Seed: No seed has been observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

Whereas the flowers of the male parent, an unnamed Magnolia laevifolia, are pale purple in color, and the flowers of the female parent, an unnamed Magnolia figo, are cream-white in color, the flowers of ‘HYB01’ are purple-red in color and exhibit dark purple-red margins.

COMPARISON WITH CLOSEST KNOWN VARIETY

The closest comparison variety known to the inventor is the inventor's co-pending variety, Magnolia Plant Named ‘SL01’ which shares the same parentage. In comparison, mature plants of ‘HYB01’ are slightly taller and broader. The leaves of ‘HYB01’ are longer and wider than the leaves of ‘SL01’. The flowers of ‘HYB01’ are red-purple in color with darker red-purple tepal margins, whereas the flowers of ‘SL01’ are predominantly cream in color. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Magnolia plant named ‘HYB01’ as described and illustrated herein. 